Pi Wars 2019 tickets on sale

Roboteers must navigate a crew back to Earth on the Apollo 13 obstacle course

Cambridge Computer Laboratory (CCL) is gearing up to host a weekend of space-themed action when it plays host to Pi Wars 2019. Visitors on the last weekend of March (30 & 31st) will witness all manner of furious Raspberry Pi robot challenges in CCL’s William Gates Building.

For the uninitiated, Pi Wars is an international, challenge-based robotics competition. Teams build Raspberry Pi-controlled robots and compete in various non-destructive challenges to earn points.

Pi Wars 2019

Get tickets for Pi Wars 2019

Thanks to the creativity of teams around the world, the Pi Wars stage is packed with a wild array of moving creations. Manoeuvring Pi-mobiles round obstacle courses will be trickier than ever due to new obstacles and brand-new tracks, all designed by the Pi Wars organisers Tim Richardson and Michael Horne.

Tim tells us, “I’m particularly looking forward how the robots tackle the Spirit of Curiosity course – a completely new, fetch-and-carry course for this year which has been the hardest build so far.”

There’s also a new autonomous maze course, an obstacle course, and a kink in the straight-line speed test, keeping each challenge fresh for previous entrants.
More than 150 teams applied, and £5 spectator tickets can be bought in advance at piwars.org. Tickets on the day are £7 apiece. If you’re a volunteer or under 18 years old, you get to enjoy Pi Wars for free.

Volunteer for Pi Wars

Tim and Mike Horne – and The MagPi crew – are very excited to see how this year’s Space Exploration theme will be interpreted by Pi Wars entrants.

Tim tells us that more than one six-wheeled Curiosity-evoking vehicle will be make its debut. Pi-based challengers will be judged by ex-Robot Wars judge Dr Lucy Rogers, as well as a yet-to-be-announced additional celebrity adjudicator.